Chapter 2 Trapped and Dying

Rachel's POV

"Hey, Rachel."

I had hardly dropped my phone back into my pocket when Elena called out softly behind me.

Turning around nervously, my inner wolf shrank back as I faced her. I froze on the spot.

Standing there with a soft smile, her dominant Luna aura made me feel suffocated.

"Lady Elena, what can I do for you?"

"I just remembered I still need to pick up a few things for the retreat. Could you fetch them from the apothecary for me?" Elena handed me a handwritten list.

I scanned the list and froze. One item hit me like a silver bullet.

Knotting suppressants.

"Thank you. Keep it between us," Elena whispered with a wink. "You know how Alphas get. I just want to make sure my body is fully prepared before we try to get an heir."

After nodding awkwardly with my throat tight, I practically fled the pantry.

I was just 19 during my first heat with Daniel. It was my birthday. He snuck into my quarters with a frosted cake and filled my room with jasmine to mask our scent.

As an orphaned Omega that had never been celebrated before, the little cake and the illusion of a mate's affection swept me off my feet. Instantly, I surrendered my throat and my body to him.

Bitterly, I smiled at myself.

Female wolves needed the protection of a strong pack and a high-ranking family. Otherwise, a single sweet gesture would be all that was needed for a dominant male to trick them into submission.

Four years in Daniel's bed, yet I had never picked up suppressants. His wolf hated them as he wanted raw control. So, after every encounter, I was forced to drink bitter tonics to ensure that I wouldn't bear his pups.

But for Elena?

Of course, he couldn't let his future Luna swallow bitter herbs. That would be too harmful for her.

---

On the way to the border airstrip, I stayed silent with my grip tight on the steering wheel of the SUV.

"The moon is rising and we're tight on time. Drive faster," Daniel ordered from the backseat with his Alpha tone.

"Yes, Alpha." I nodded and accelerated.

We were passing the outer settlement when a young pup in mid-shift suddenly darted right into the middle of the road. Swerving hard to avoid crushing the child, I sent the heavy SUV crashing straight into the concrete median.

"Elena!" Daniel’s protective instincts flared. He threw himself over Elena to shield her entirely with his muscular frame.

Luckily, we weren't going at top speed. Only the driver's side took the brunt of the damage and the reinforced metal crumpled inward.

The airbags deployed with a violent hiss and the crushed frame pinned me tightly against the seat. My left leg was trapped under the dashboard and the sharp pain blurred my vision, causing my wolf to whimper.

"Daniel..." My voice trembled. "Help me..."

I was afraid of being trapped in tight spaces. My wolf couldn't handle it.

Back in the days, Cassidy shifted and dragged me by the hair before locking me in a silver-lined transport cage. No matter how hard I screamed, clawed or howled, no one came.

The crushing pressure and the burning silver against my skin with the suffocating air made it a pure hell.

If a passing patrol hadn't noticed the scent of my blood the next morning, I would have died in there.

"Daniel!"

As Daniel kicked the passenger door open and stepped out, I panicked, forgetting that Elena was right there listening. "Don't leave me…"

"Let the border patrol and the medics handle it." Daniel stepped out onto the asphalt and pulled Elena with him. He checked her over for injuries with his face dark.

"She's still in there." Elena glanced back at the wreck with her brow furrowed in suspicion.

Low-ranking Omega weren't supposed to call the Alpha by his given name.

Daniel pulled Elena tightly to his side and shot me cold and warning glance despite being trapped.

He checked his watch. "No time to waste. The crash wasn't bad. We'll grab a passing patrol vehicle to the airstrip. The guards will dig you out."

Daniel nodded and glanced at me with his eyes devoid of any bond. I watched him as he walked away from the smoking wreck.

I pounded my fists against the cracked window while my inner wolf thrashed wildly against my ribs. But Daniel never looked back.

I knew why. He was afraid that Elena would suspect him.

Watching his broad shoulders disappear down the road, my control finally shattered. I sobbed uncontrollably and my fangs lengthened as hysteria set in. "Daniel! Help me. You promised that your wolf would never leave me!

"Liar! You're a liar, Daniel! You said you would protect me!"

My breakdown spiraled quickly. The despair and the rising panic sent me into a frenzy.

My physical injuries wasn't life-threatening at first, but now I was tearing my own skin against the jagged metal without realizing it.

"Let me out! Let me out!" I screamed with my voice cracking.

The old trauma of the silver cage clouded my mind and I couldn't think straight. Then, the acrid smell of smoke and fuel from the engine filled the cabin.

Fire. The one thing that every wolf feared instinctively.

"The engine's catching fire!"

"Stand back! There's no one in the back. I saw the Alpha leave!"

Voices of arriving pack members reached my ears but they kept their distance from the flames.

I remained trapped with my energy spent. I closed my eyes as the smoke thickened while I counted under my breath just as I had done all those years ago.

"One, two, three, four..."

The night Cassidy locked me in that silver box, I counted all the way to 7000 to keep myself sane.

As I felt the heat rising, I wondered, how many number I would count before my wolf would die this time.